Opinion: SBJ’s future is bright in Chesterfield Village

Home is where the heart is. However cliche that may be, Springfield Business Journal has found a new home in Chesterfield Village that is awfully easy to love. After nearly 35 years in downtown, the last 25 of which were spent in a three-story building on Park Central West that was renovated by my mother, SBJ now occupies 4,000 square feet in a single-level building at 2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd.

I pursued this move over nine months ago with a very specific but simple wish list in mind. I wanted a conference room and table large enough for all 20 SBJ team members to gather with a front-row seat. I was looking for collaborative workspaces that also offer some privacy departmentally. I wanted lots of natural lighting and a space that is both cozy and contemporary. I wanted a kitchen with all the amenities of home and bathrooms that offer seclusion and comfort. OK, so maybe the list wasn’t all that simple. But with the help of architect Brad Baker of GHN Architects Engineers and contractor Jim Lorenz, my wishes have come to fruition.

“After working alongside the SBJ staff for nearly 10 years to maintain their downtown location, it has been gratifying to help create a space as unique as the last that will most certainly help facilitate their work and continued growth in the years to come,” Lorenz says.

The gallery-like space will feature the original artwork and photography of SBJ staff members. Three large, mixed-medium paintings created by Associate Publisher Marty Goodnight already hang in the common areas. Additionally, an enlarged black and white photo of founding publisher Dianne Elizabeth Osis – that was taken by former downtown neighbor Randy Bacon – hangs prominently in the foyer to remind us all of where we’ve been and how we got here.

I am incredibly grateful for the newness that surrounds us, for the good friends and neighbors that have welcomed us to Chesterfield Village, and for the willingness of my staff to embrace the change. Though, saying goodbye to our home downtown also comes with some angst. We will miss our neighbors there, the exciting vibe of the city’s center and the familiarity of a building that held 25 years of memories and lots and lots of “stuff.” It is my hope that 313 Park Central West will attract a new owner who will love it as we have and who will add something special to the downtown mix.

We have plans for an open house in the near future, but no date has been set. However, you needn’t wait for a formal invitation.

If you find yourself in the area, please stop in for a tour. Mi casa es su casa!

Springfield Business Journal Publisher Jennifer Jackson can be reached at jjackson@sbj.net.